CYANOGEN BROMIDE HAZARD SUMMARY Cyanogen Bromide - New Jersey

Common Name: CYANOGEN BROMIDE RTK Substance number: 2302
Date: April 2004
CAS Number: 506-68-3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOT Number: UN 1889
------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Exposure to hazardous substances should be routinely
evaluated. This may include collecting personal and area
HAZARD SUMMARY air samples. You can obtain copies of sampling results
from your employer. You have a legal right to this
* Cyanogen Bromide can affect you when breathed in and information under OSHA 1910.1020.
by passing through your skin.
* If you think you are experiencing any work-related health
* Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. problems, see a doctor trained to recognize occupational
* Breathing Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the nose and diseases. Take this Fact Sheet with you.

throat. WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
* Breathing Cyanogen Bromide may irritate the lungs
OSHA: The legal airborne permissible exposure limit
causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher (PEL) is 5 mg/m3 (as Cyanides) averaged over
exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs
(pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe an 8-hour workshift.
shortness of breath.
* High exposure to Cyanogen Bromide can cause fatal * The above exposure limit is for air levels only. When skin
Cyanide poisoning with flushing of the face, chest contact also occurs, you may be overexposed, even though
tightness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, air levels are less than the limit listed above.
confusion, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. High levels
may cause convulsions and death. WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE

IDENTIFICATION * Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust
ventilation at the site of chemical release. If local exhaust
Cyanogen Bromide is a white crystalline (sand-like) solid ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be
with a strong odor. It is used to make other chemicals, in worn.
fumigating and rat exterminating, and as a reagent in gold
extraction processes. * Wear protective work clothing.

REASON FOR CITATION * Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Cyanogen

* Cyanogen Bromide is on the Hazardous Substance List Bromide and at the end of the workshift.
because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by DOT, DEP, * Post hazard and warning information in the work area. In
IRIS, NFPA and EPA.
addition, as part of an ongoing education and training
* Definitions are provided on page 5. effort, communicate all information on the health and
safety hazards of Cyanogen Bromide to potentially
HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU ARE BEING exposed workers.
EXPOSED

The New Jersey Right to Know Act requires most employers
to label chemicals in the workplace and requires public
employers to provide their employees with information and
training concerning chemical hazards and controls. The
federal OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, 1910.1200,
requires private employers to provide similar training and
information to their employees.

CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 2 of 6

This Fact Sheet is a summary source of information of all Any evaluation should include a careful history of past and
potential and most severe health hazards that may result from present symptoms with an exam. Medical tests that look for
exposure. Duration of exposure, concentration of the substance damage already done are not a substitute for controlling
and other factors will affect your susceptibility to any of the exposure.
potential effects described below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Request copies of your medical testing. You have a legal right
to this information under OSHA 1910.1020.
HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
Mixed Exposures
Acute Health Effects
* Because smoking can cause heart disease, as well as lung
The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory problems, it may
immediately or shortly after exposure to Cyanogen Bromide: worsen respiratory conditions caused by chemical exposure.
Even if you have smoked for a long time, stopping now will
* Contact can irritate the skin and eyes. reduce your risk of developing health problems.
* Breathing Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the nose and
WORKPLACE CONTROLS AND PRACTICES
throat.
* Breathing Cyanogen Bromide may irritate the lungs Unless a less toxic chemical can be substituted for a hazardous
substance, ENGINEERING CONTROLS are the most
causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher effective way of reducing exposure. The best protection is to
exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs enclose operations and/or provide local exhaust ventilation at
(pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe the site of chemical release. Isolating operations can also
shortness of breath. reduce exposure. Using respirators or protective equipment is
* High exposure to Cyanogen Bromide can cause fatal less effective than the controls mentioned above, but is
Cyanide poisoning with flushing of the face, chest sometimes necessary.
tightness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness,
confusion, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. High levels may In evaluating the controls present in your workplace, consider:
cause convulsions and death. (1) how hazardous the substance is, (2) how much of the
substance is released into the workplace and (3) whether
Chronic Health Effects harmful skin or eye contact could occur. Special controls
should be in place for highly toxic chemicals or when
The following chronic (long-term) health effects can occur at significant skin, eye, or breathing exposures are possible.
some time after exposure to Cyanogen Bromide and can last
for months or years: In addition, the following control is recommended:

Cancer Hazard * Where possible, automatically transfer Cyanogen Bromide
from drums or other storage containers to process
* According to the information presently available to the New containers.
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
Cyanogen Bromide has not been tested for its ability to Good WORK PRACTICES can help to reduce hazardous
cause cancer in animals. exposures. The following work practices are recommended:

Reproductive Hazard * Workers whose clothing has been contaminated by
Cyanogen Bromide should change into clean clothing
* According to the information presently available to the New promptly.
Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services,
Cyanogen Bromide has not been tested for its ability to * Do not take contaminated work clothes home. Family
affect reproduction. members could be exposed.

Other Long-Term Effects * Contaminated work clothes should be laundered by
individuals who have been informed of the hazards of
* Cyanogen Bromide can irritate the lungs. Repeated exposure to Cyanogen Bromide.
exposure may cause bronchitis to develop with cough,
phlegm, and/or shortness of breath. * Eye wash fountains should be provided in the immediate
work area for emergency use.
MEDICAL
* If there is the possibility of skin exposure, emergency
Medical Testing shower facilities should be provided.

If symptoms develop or overexposure is suspected, the * On skin contact with Cyanogen Bromide, immediately
following are recommended: wash or shower to remove the chemical. At the end of the
workshift, wash any areas of the body that may have
* Chest x-ray and lung function tests. contacted Cyanogen Bromide, whether or not known skin
contact has occurred.

* Do not eat, smoke, or drink where Cyanogen Bromide is
handled, processed, or stored, since the chemical can be

CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 3 of 6

swallowed. Wash hands carefully before eating, drinking, HANDLING AND STORAGE
smoking, or using the toilet.
* Use a vacuum or a wet method to reduce dust during clean- * Prior to working with Cyanogen Bromide you should be
up. DO NOT DRY SWEEP. trained on its proper handling and storage.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT * Cyanogen Bromide may react with WATER or STRONG
ACIDS (such as HYDROCHLORIC, SULFURIC and
WORKPLACE CONTROLS ARE BETTER THAN NITRIC) to release toxic, corrosive, flammable or
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. However, for explosive gases.
some jobs (such as outside work, confined space entry, jobs
done only once in a while, or jobs done while workplace * Cyanogen Bromide is not compatible with OXIDIZING
controls are being installed), personal protective equipment AGENTS (such as PERCHLORATES, PEROXIDES,
may be appropriate. PERMANGANATES, CHLORATES, NITRATES,
CHLORINE, BROMINE and FLUORINE) and METALS.
OSHA 1910.132 requires employers to determine the
appropriate personal protective equipment for each hazard and * Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated
to train employees on how and when to use protective area away from HEAT, AIR, LIGHT and MOISTURE.
equipment.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
The following recommendations are only guidelines and may
not apply to every situation. Q: If I have acute health effects, will I later get chronic
health effects?
Clothing
A: Not always. Most chronic (long-term) effects result from
* Avoid skin contact with Cyanogen Bromide. Wear repeated exposures to a chemical.
protective gloves and clothing. Safety equipment
suppliers/manufacturers can provide recommendations on Q: Can I get long-term effects without ever having short-
the most protective glove/clothing material for your term effects?
operation.
A: Yes, because long-term effects can occur from repeated
* All protective clothing (suits, gloves, footwear, headgear) exposures to a chemical at levels not high enough to make
should be clean, available each day, and put on before you immediately sick.
work.
Q: What are my chances of getting sick when I have been
Eye Protection exposed to chemicals?

* Wear impact resistant eye protection with side shields or A: The likelihood of becoming sick from chemicals is
goggles. increased as the amount of exposure increases. This is
determined by the length of time and the amount of
* Wear a face shield along with goggles when working with material to which someone is exposed.
corrosive, highly irritating or toxic substances.
Q: When are higher exposures more likely?
* Contact lenses should not be worn when working with this A: Conditions which increase risk of exposure include dust
substance.
releasing operations (grinding, mixing, blasting, dumping,
Respiratory Protection etc.), other physical and mechanical processes (heating,
pouring, spraying, spills and evaporation from large
IMPROPER USE OF RESPIRATORS IS DANGEROUS. surface areas such as open containers), and "confined
Such equipment should only be used if the employer has a space" exposures (working inside vats, reactors, boilers,
written program that takes into account workplace conditions, small rooms, etc.).
requirements for worker training, respirator fit testing and
medical exams, as described in OSHA 1910.134. Q: Is the risk of getting sick higher for workers than for
community residents?
* Where the potential exists for exposure over 5 mg/m3 (as
Cyanides), use a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator A: Yes. Exposures in the community, except possibly in
with a full facepiece operated in a pressure-demand or other cases of fires or spills, are usually much lower than those
positive-pressure mode. For increased protection use in found in the workplace. However, people in the
combination with an auxiliary self-contained breathing community may be exposed to contaminated water as
apparatus operated in a pressure-demand or other positive- well as to chemicals in the air over long periods. This
pressure mode. may be a problem for children or people who are already
ill.

CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 4 of 6

------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following information is available from:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Occupational Health Service
PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360
(609) 984-1863
(609) 984-7407 (fax)

Web address: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/odisweb/

Industrial Hygiene Information
Industrial hygienists are available to answer your questions
regarding the control of chemical exposures using exhaust
ventilation, special work practices, good housekeeping, good
hygiene practices, and personal protective equipment including
respirators. In addition, they can help to interpret the results of
industrial hygiene survey data.

Medical Evaluation
If you think you are becoming sick because of exposure to
chemicals at your workplace, you may call personnel at the
Department of Health and Senior Services, Occupational
Health Service, who can help you find the information you
need.

Public Presentations
Presentations and educational programs on occupational health
or the Right to Know Act can be organized for labor unions,
trade associations and other groups.

Right to Know Information Resources
The Right to Know Infoline (609) 984-2202 can answer
questions about the identity and potential health effects of
chemicals, list of educational materials in occupational health,
references used to prepare the Fact Sheets, preparation of the
Right to Know Survey, education and training programs,
labeling requirements, and general information regarding the
Right to Know Act. Violations of the law should be reported to
(609) 984-2202.
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CYANOGEN BROMIDE page 5 of 6

DEFINITIONS NAERG is the North American Emergency Response
Guidebook. It was jointly developed by Transport Canada, the
ACGIH is the American Conference of Governmental United States Department of Transportation and the Secretariat
Industrial Hygienists. It recommends upper limits (called of Communications and Transportation of Mexico. It is a
TLVs) for exposure to workplace chemicals. guide for first responders to quickly identify the specific or
generic hazards of material involved in a transportation
A carcinogen is a substance that causes cancer. incident, and to protect themselves and the general public
during the initial response phase of the incident.
The CAS number is assigned by the Chemical Abstracts
Service to identify a specific chemical. NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association. It classifies
substances according to their fire and explosion hazard.
CFR is the Code of Federal Regulations, which consists of the
regulations of the United States government. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health. It tests equipment, evaluates and approves respirators,
A combustible substance is a solid, liquid or gas that will burn. conducts studies of workplace hazards, and proposes standards
to OSHA.
A corrosive substance is a gas, liquid or solid that causes
irreversible damage to human tissue or containers. NTP is the National Toxicology Program which tests
chemicals and reviews evidence for cancer.
DEP is the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
which adopts and enforces health and safety standards.
DOT is the Department of Transportation, the federal agency
that regulates the transportation of chemicals. PEL is the Permissible Exposure Limit which is enforceable by
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
EPA is the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal
agency responsible for regulating environmental hazards. PIH is a DOT designation for chemicals which are Poison
Inhalation Hazards.
A fetus is an unborn human or animal.
ppm means parts of a substance per million parts of air. It is a
A flammable substance is a solid, liquid, vapor or gas that will measure of concentration by volume in air.
ignite easily and burn rapidly.
A reactive substance is a solid, liquid or gas that releases
The flash point is the temperature at which a liquid or solid energy under certain conditions.
gives off vapor that can form a flammable mixture with air.
STEL is a Short Term Exposure Limit which is usually a 15-
IARC is the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a minute exposure that should not be exceeded at any time during
scientific group that classifies chemicals according to their a work day.
cancer-causing potential.
A teratogen is a substance that causes birth defects by
IRIS is the Integrated Risk Information System database of the damaging the fetus.
federal EPA.
TLV is the Threshold Limit Value, the workplace exposure
A miscible substance is a liquid or gas that will evenly dissolve limit recommended by ACGIH.
in another.
The vapor pressure is a measure of how readily a liquid or a
mg/m3 means milligrams of a chemical in a cubic meter of air. solid mixes with air at its surface. A higher vapor pressure
It is a measure of concentration (weight/volume). indicates a higher concentration of the substance in air and
therefore increases the likelihood of breathing it in.
A mutagen is a substance that causes mutations. A mutation is
a change in the genetic material in a body cell. Mutations can
lead to birth defects, miscarriages, or cancer.

page 6 of 6

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> E M E R G E N C Y I N F O R M A T I O N <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Common Name: CYANOGEN BROMIDE HANDLING AND STORAGE (See page 3)

DOT Number: UN 1889 FIRST AID
NAERG Code: 157
CAS Number: 506-68-3 For POISON INFORMATION call 1-800-222-1222

Hazard rating NJDHSS NFPA Eye Contact

FLAMMABILITY - 0 * Immediately flush with large amounts of water. Continue
without stopping for at least 30 minutes, occasionally
REACTIVITY - 1 lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention
immediately.
DO NOT USE WATER
POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE Skin Contact

Hazard Rating Key: 0=minimal; 1=slight; 2=moderate; * Quickly remove contaminated clothing. Immediately wash
3=serious; 4=severe area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical
attention immediately.
FIRE HAZARDS
Breathing
* Extinguish fire using an agent suitable for type of
* Remove the person from exposure.
surrounding fire. Cyanogen Bromide itself does not burn. * Begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions) if

* DO NOT USE WATER directly on Cyanogen Bromide. breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped.
* Transfer promptly to a medical facility.
* POISONOUS GASES ARE PRODUCED IN FIRE, * Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours

including Hydrogen Bromide and Hydrogen Cyanide. after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be
delayed.
* Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool.
* If employees are expected to fight fires, they must be

trained and equipped as stated in OSHA 1910.156.

SPILLS AND EMERGENCIES Antidotes and Special Procedures

If Cyanogen Bromide is spilled, take the following steps: * Use Amyl Nitrite capsules if symptoms develop. All area
employees should be trained regularly in emergency
* Evacuate persons not wearing protective equipment from treatment of Cyanide poisoning and in CPR. A Cyanide
area of spill until clean-up is complete. antidote kit MUST be rapidly available and ingredients
replaced every 1 to 2 years to ensure freshness.
* Collect powdered material in the most convenient and safe
manner and deposit in sealed containers. PHYSICAL DATA

* DO NOT USE WATER directly on spilled material. Vapor Pressure: 122 mm Hg at 77oF (25oC)
* Ventilate area after clean-up is complete. Water Solubility: Soluble
* It may be necessary to contain and dispose of Cyanogen
OTHER COMMONLY USED NAMES
Bromide as a HAZARDOUS WASTE. Contact your state
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or your Chemical Name:
regional office of the federal Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for specific recommendations. Cyanogen Bromide
* If employees are required to clean-up spills, they must be
properly trained and equipped. OSHA 1910.120(q) may be Other Names:
applicable.
Bromine Cyanide; Bromocyanide

============================================ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR LARGE SPILLS AND FIRES immediately call your fire
department. You can request emergency information from the Not intended to be copied and sold for commercial
following: purposes.

CHEMTREC: (800) 424-9300 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJDEP HOTLINE: 1-877-WARN-DEP NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
============================================
SENIOR SERVICES
Right to Know Program
PO Box 368, Trenton, NJ 08625-0368
(609) 984-2202

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